After evaluating the ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12’s cross-division schedules, this week we arrive at the SEC.

Each of the 14 SEC programs play eight conference games, six against their own division members and two from the opposite division. One of the two cross-division opponents is a permanent rival, established by conference back in 2012.

Though this means there is only one rotating cross-division opponent each season, the composite level of difficulty still changes each year.

In 2016, 11 of the SEC’s 14 members receive mention in Phi Steele’s preseason Top 42. For the West division it’s a perfect 7 of 7.

Rankings are based on last season’s performance and projections for this year via Phil Steele. The asterisk denotes each team’s permanent cross-division rival.

While there is no easy cross-division schedules for members of the SEC East, South Carolina has what’s arguably the weakest.

Steele has the Aggies and Bulldogs in a three-way tie at No. 5 with Arkansas, representing the bottom half of what’s a stacked West. Additionally, Texas A&M and Mississippi State combine for the lowest winning percentage (65.38%) in 2015 of any cross-division combo from the West.

Steele has LSU tied with Alabama for first in the West, but has the Tigers at No. 4 nationally vs. the Tide at No. 2.

Either one will be tough, but it’s definitely Alabama that earns the highest confidence rating based on its mere five SEC losses since 2011.

Along with LSU, Florida travels to Arkansas. Steele has the Razorbacks tied for No. 5 in the division and No. 42 overall. With nine returning to a starters to a defense that ranked No. 12 nationally vs. the run, they may not vie for a conference crown, but they will be a tough challenge.

It’s worth noting that the Gators have won nine straight over Arkansas, last losing in the 1982 Bluebonnet Bowl in Houston.

At the top of the heap is Tennessee, a program that’s primed to make a run in 2016. Any accolades will be hard earned with both the Aggies and Tide on the schedule.

While it helps that permanent-rival Alabama is a home game, Tennessee hasn’t beaten the Tide in Knoxville since 2006, dropping four straight since then. As for the Aggies, Steele has them as a wildcard, tied at No. 5 (with Arkansas and Mississippi State). The big question is whether A&M can overcome having the second-least experienced offensive line in the SEC.

Mississippi State draws the two Eastern teams that finished under .500 last year, both South Carolina and Kentucky went 5-7. It gives them the only cross-division combo in the entire SEC to have a losing record in 2015.

Steele projects South Carolina will continue to struggle and finish dead last in the division while Kentucky will stick around at No. 5.

Even though Steele has Georgia as the stronger team than Florida coming into 2016, Ole Miss and Auburn’s schedules take a hit with Vanderbilt.

Steele has the Bulldogs tied for No. 2 in the East and No. 23 nationally vs. the Gators shared No. 2 in the division and No. 34 overall. Vanderbilt has won just two SEC games and one road game in Derek Mason’s first two season at the helm.